Surgical stapler with anvil seating detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016374667-A1
Application number	US-201514751247-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2015
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A surgical circular stapler has a handle assembly, a shaft, a stapling assembly, and a firing assembly. The shaft extends distally from the handle assembly. The stapling assembly is secured to a distal end of the shaft. Longitudinal translation of the firing assembly causes the stapling assembly to drive a plurality of staples in a circular array to secure two lumens of tissue together. The stapling assembly may further drive a blade to sever any excess tissue interior of the circular array of staples. The stapler further includes a lockout assembly configured to control firing of the stapling assembly. The lockout assembly may include one or more switches, the actuation of which is configured to prevent or permit firing of the stapling assembly. The lockout assembly may additionally or alternatively include one or more mechanical lockout features configured to control firing of the stapling assembly.

First claim

I/We claim:

1 . A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a body assembly, wherein the body assembly comprises a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly extends distally from the distal end of the body assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises a proximal end and a distal end; (c) a stapling assembly, wherein the stapling assembly is disposed at the distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the stapling assembly is operable to drive a plurality of staples into tissue, wherein the stapling assembly comprises:
(i) a trocar, wherein the trocar is configured to selectively move between a distal position to a proximal position within the shaft assembly, and
(ii) an anvil, wherein the anvil is selectively coupleable with the trocar, wherein the anvil is configured to move between the distal position and the proximal position when coupled with the trocar;
(d) a firing assembly, wherein the firing assembly is coupled with the stapling assembly, wherein the firing assembly is configured to drive movement of the stapling assembly; and (e) a lockout assembly, wherein the lockout assembly is configured to permit actuation of the firing assembly in response to coupling of the anvil with the trocar, and wherein the lockout assembly is configured to prevent actuation of the firing assembly in response to the anvil not being coupled with the trocar.

2 . The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the lockout assembly comprises a switch assembly, wherein the switch assembly is configured to permit actuation of the firing assembly in response to actuation of the switch assembly.

3 . The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the anvil is configured to actuate the switch assembly in response to movement of the anvil toward the proximal position when the anvil is coupled with the trocar.

4 . The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the switch assembly comprises an actuator spring, wherein the actuator spring is configured to deform to thereby actuate the switch assembly, wherein the anvil is configured to deform the actuator spring in response to movement of the anvil toward the proximal position when coupled with the trocar.

5 . The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the switch assembly comprises a rotatable actuator, wherein the rotatable actuator is configured to rotate to thereby actuate the switch assembly, wherein the anvil is configured to rotate the rotatable actuator in response to movement of the anvil toward the proximal position when coupled with the trocar.

6 . The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the trocar comprises the lockout assembly.

7 . The instrument of claim 6 , wherein the lockout assembly comprises a sleeve and a lockout member.

8 . The instrument of claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is translatable along a length of the trocar, wherein the lockout member is rotatably coupled with the trocar, wherein the sleeve is configured to translate along a length of the trocar to thereby cause rotation of the lockout member between an exposed position and an unexposed position.

9 . The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the anvil is translatable along a length of the trocar, wherein the anvil is configured to translate along a length of the trocar to thereby cause translation of the sleeve.

10 . The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the lockout assembly further includes a link member, wherein the link member is configured to translate within and relative to the shaft assembly, wherein the lockout member is configured to cause translation of a link member when the link member is in an exposed position.

11 . The instrument of claim 10 , wherein the link member is configured to translate to thereby actuate a switch assembly, wherein the switch assembly is configured to permit actuation of the firing assembly in response to actuation of the switch assembly.

12 . The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the lockout member is configured to actuate a switch assembly when the link member is in the exposed position, wherein the switch assembly is configured to permit actuation of the firing assembly in response to actuation of the switch assembly.

13 . The instrument of claim 6 , wherein the lockout assembly comprises a switch assembly, wherein the switch assembly is configured to permit actuation of the firing assembly in response to actuation of the switch assembly.

14 . The instrument of claim 13 , wherein the trocar comprises a cantilevered tab, wherein the cantilevered tab is configured to move inwardly relative to a hollow interior of trocar to thereby actuate the switch assembly.

15 . The instrument of claim 14 , wherein the anvil is configured to couple with the trocar to thereby cause inward movement of the cantilevered tab.

16 . The instrument of claim 6 , wherein the lockout assembly comprises an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical circuit is configured to close to permit actuation of the firing assembly in response to actuation of the switch assembly.

17 . The instrument of claim 16 , wherein the anvil is configured to couple with the trocar to thereby close the electrical circuit.

18 . The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the trocar comprises a head defining a distal tip, wherein the trocar comprises a plurality of ribs disposed about the head.

19 . A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a body assembly, wherein the body assembly comprises a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly extends distally from the distal end of the body assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises a proximal end and a distal end; (c) a stapling assembly, wherein the stapling assembly is disposed at the distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the stapling assembly is operable to drive a plurality of staples into tissue, wherein the stapling assembly comprises:
(i) a trocar, wherein the trocar is configured to selectively move between a distal position to a proximal position within the shaft assembly, and
(ii) an anvil, wherein the anvil is selectively coupleable with the trocar, wherein the anvil is configured to move between the distal position and the proximal position when coupled with the trocar; and
(d) a firing assembly, wherein the firing assembly is coupled with the stapling assembly, wherein the firing assembly is configured to drive movement of the stapling assembly; wherein the trocar comprises a lockout assembly, wherein the lockout assembly is configured to permit actuation of the firing assembly in response to coupling of the anvil with the trocar, and wherein the lockout assembly is configured to prevent actuation of the firing assembly in response to the anvil not being coupled with the trocar.

20 . A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a body assembly, wherein the body assembly comprises a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly extends distally from the distal end of the body assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises a proximal end and a distal end; (c) a stapling assembly, wherein the stapling assembly is disposed at the distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the stapling assembly is operable to drive a plurality of staples into tissue, wherein the stapling assembly comprises:
(i) a trocar, wherein the trocar is configured to selectively move between a distal position to a proximal position within the shaft assembly, and
(ii) an anvil, wherein the anvil is selectively coupleable with the trocar, wherein the anvil is configured to move between the distal position and the proximal p

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc

Inventors

• Miller Christopher C
• Schwemberger Richard F

Classifications

• A61B17/1155 Primary

  Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples · CPC title

• A61B2017/2946

  Locking means · CPC title

• A61B17/068 Primary

  Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) · CPC title

• A61B2017/07257

  characterised by its anvil · CPC title

• A61B2090/0811

  for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument · CPC title